Tri the Rock - Triathlon

32nd overall female. Not bad.

I have not been training. Not at all, look at my totals for this whole year (not counting January) if you don't believe me. That being known, my goal was to not be embarrased by getting passed since I was seeded so far in the front (#92). I was worried. I told myself as it was starting (this is the most nervous I've ever been in a race) that this was a short swim, go at 90%, and hope for the best.

I ran and jumped in when she told me to "go!", I got my rythum pretty quickly and kept saying to myself that this was a really short swim. I realized after 50, then 100 that the guy behind me wasn't going to pass me and before the 1/2 way I was going to pass the guy in front of me! He was nice and let me pass him at the wall so I wouldn't get pounded my people in the lane. I saw that no one was going to catch me at this point...score! The water was really rough and we were swimming up and down each lane. The deep end was really rough, it felt like an OWS...odd. I was flip turning most of the way, I think I didn't flip turn twice. Chris later said I looked out of place flip-turning under to change lanes as everyone else was stopping to duck under the rope. Yay me!

I got to the last 100 and knew I was going to catch a girl in front of me. Horray! She looked at me at the 200 and didn't let me pass and bolted. I caught up to her at 250 and she knew I had caught her. Instead of letting me pass at the wall she tried to outswim me....For those who know me you know what happend...Comet got pissed. I heard Laurie yell from the side of the pool to "GO!" and I creamed her. I caught her, and practically swam over her. As I was passing her someone was coming the other way and there was almost a collision. I won.

Train! Otherwise nothing.

My rack was just one down from the entrance to T1. I was quick except I was using my Garmin 305 for the first time in a race. I fumbled with it and that really slowed me down.

Put my Garmin in my jersey or pre mount it on the tube of the bike.

Hilly, a very small (maybe 1.5 miles) segment of flat riding. The roads were a little rough but manageable.

Goal: survive and not be completely humiliated.
I got passed a lot which is normal. First thing I noticed was that my speed sensor wasn't working. Crap. Oh well, this is short so I didn't want to get off the bike and fix it. At mile 7 we turned on another road to head back to the T2. I had a slight crosswind before this, but this turn was into strong headwind. I had no idea how fast I was going and I guessed 12-13mph. Based on my overall time this was probably right as I would have been 17-18mph before. Not too bad, so I'm not that upset with myself.

Within the last 5 miles I passed 5 people! This is huge for me. They must have gone too hard, the hills were eating them, or the winds. I don't care, I'll take it!

Well, I sucked and its my fault I haven't trained like I should have. The hills slowed me down, it was hard. I had some good rides this week but on much smaller bumps. The course wasn't overly difficult, I just wasn't prepared.

Nothing specatular, normal. Racked bike, took off shoes, helmet and put on running shoes. The tounge to one of my shoes bunched up but I fixed it quickly and was on my way.

Heard the cheering section yelling for me (John, Marcy, and Steve) and I thanked them on my way out.

Nothing.

It was hard. The first 1/2 mile was through a hilly field to get to the paved trail. Then it was very slightly hilly, nothing really. Hit each aid station twice as it was an out and back. Drank 1/2 cup of water each time and threw the other 1/2 on my head. Worked out well.

Chris caught up to me about 1/2 way and said I had been his rabbit. We chatted for a minute, then he was my rabbit on the way in. Worked out well. As I was running out, I was like a pubescent boy looking at the girls' legs as they were on their way in. I had this feeling in the back of my mind that I hadn't seen anyone in my AG all day. Hummm...odd. They were all in older AG's and great athletes I had seen at other races...

Right after I hit mile 2, Laurie was riding in on her bike and cheered for me. It was a great boost again. I thought about the swim and laughed. Felt pretty good after that and finished strong. I shouldn't have walked at each aid station since I still had plenty of gas in the tank. Oh well.

Not walk, but I was scared I wasn't going to be able to run strong the whole way since I was under prepared.

Immediately after I took off my chip my ankle started burning. Blister. My first tri blister! Whoo hoo! It hurt but oh well. Found the great 'straps and got my post race food and beer. Found a spot and waited for Laurie to come in.

Hung around for our awards, 2nd in my AG and Laurie got 3rd place Athena! Rock on for 2 non-training triathletes!

As I'm getting my award Jack the RD (and also Aaron's sponsor!) says "You may all not know Haley, but you know her age grouper uhhh...significant other Aaron, the guy that carries the American flag. Well he's not here because he's carrying the flag in Ironman Canada today!" I laughed and was embarrassed but so proud of him. :) I got lots of cheers.

Talked with our friend Trey who placed in his AG as well and he made fun of me for being upstaged by Aaron and he's out of the country. Go figure.


Non-existent training.


Jack always does a great job, his events are very organized.

I really had a mediocre race. My time doesn't come close to my sprint PR, which is fine, this bike was much more difficult. Before I found out I was second in my AG I told Marcy "I swam great, nothing bad happend on the bike and I had an Ok run. I can't be upset or complain. That being said, I guess it was a good race." Then Laurie and I got awards and the race wasn't small, so it became a great race!